The deputy national chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, who was arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), last week, has described his detention as a witch-hunt and pure political persecution.

The EFCC arrested the PDP Chieftain over the luxury vehicles he received from the detained Jide Omokore, an associate of former minister petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated for alleged fraud.

Secondus admitted to receiving the automobiles, noting that he has been friends with Omokore for over 20 years and regularly received car gifts from him for personal use.

"Mr. Jide Omokore has given me car gifts on several occasions in the last 10 years for my personal use," he said in a statement.

He added: "I want to state categorically that what I received from my friend, Jide Omokore were cars and buses supplied by a well-known car company, Skymit Motors apparently from a credit facility Mr Omokore has with the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the so-called transaction the investigators are alleging he had with NNPC.

"Against this background, it is most disheartening that the facts of the matter under investigation have been grossly misrepresented in the media, apparently under inducement by some political opponents in the APC particularly, a Minister from Rivers State.

"This is in line with the strategy of the ruling Party to hide under the anti-corruption fight to humiliate the leadership of our Party.

"My immediate concern is the denial of the fundamental human rights, excessive physical incarceration and the orchestrated negative media campaign completely skewed against those being investigated."

After spending eight days in detention, Secondus said he was granted bail under "very stringent conditions."